news coverage of anti-war demo
guardian/bbc/bskyb | 31.03.2002 15:25
Thousands Protest Possible US Action
Sunday March 31, 2002 3:40 AM
LONDON (AP) - Waving placards and chanting slogans, thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched through central London Saturday, calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.
The ``Don't Start Wars'' protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that President Bush was planning to launch an offensive against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime.
``It is no good demonizing Saddam Hussein. He's not a nice man but demonizing a country is a different matter,'' Labor lawmaker Tam Dalyell told demonstrators, who gathered in Trafalgar Square carrying signs reading ``Don't Attack Iraq'' and ``War Is Not The Answer.''
Dalyell, a veteran and very vocal backbench member of Blair's governing Labor Party, insisted the dispute over U.N. weapons inspectors being allowed back into Iraq must be resolved through diplomacy.
Scotland Yard estimated that 3,500 people took part in the rally.
Earlier Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales warned that U.S.-led military action against Iraq could further destabilize the Middle East.
``If a unilateral attack on Iraq would in fact cause instability, would cause the loss of ultimate peace in the Middle East, then, in my view, it would be a very dangerous step to take,'' Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor told the British Broadcasting Corp.
The cardinal urged Blair, who is scheduled to meet with Bush in Texas next week, not to take any action which would lead to a split with the rest of the European Union, where many countries are deeply concerned about the prospect of an attack on Iraq.
Speculation that Saddam would be the next target of the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism has grown since Bush said Iraq, along with North Korea and Iran, formed an ``axis of evil.'' Vice President Dick Cheney recently toured Arab nations feeling out leaders about a U.S. attack on Baghdad.
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Saturday, 30 March, 2002, 20:03 GMT
Thousands demonstrate against Iraq war
More than 3,000 anti-war demonstrators marched peacefully through central London today calling on UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.
The protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that US President George W Bush is planning to launch an offensive against Iraq.
Earlier on Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, urged Britain and America not to take any action against Iraq which would lead to further violence in the Middle East.
The Cardinal was speaking ahead of Mr Blair's visit to Texas next week to discuss the Iraqi situation with President Bush.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
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London Anti-War Protest
Thousands of anti-war protesters are gathering in London's Trafalgar Square today.
Campaigners, led by CND, are calling on the Government to use its "special relationship" to steer the US away from an increase in military action.
The Don't Start Wars demonstration will start at London's Hyde Park before moving on to Trafalgar Square where a rally will be held. The march follows mounting speculation that the US is planning to attack Iraq.
Star wars
President W George Bush has described Iraq as an "axis of evil" and has demanded UN weapons inspectors are readmitted.
Nigel Chamberlain, spokesman for CND, said: "The event has been organised to oppose US foreign policy, particularly missile defence, Star Wars and the escalation of the war on terror.
"We want the UK government to use the special relationship to steer the US towards more peaceful paths."
Speakers at the rally are expected to include CND chairwoman Carol Naughton, Andrew Murray, chairman of Stop the War Coalition and MPs Tam Dalyell and Alice Mahon.
Last Updated: 14:56 UK, Saturday March 30, 2002
© 2002 BSkyB
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Sunday March 31, 2002 3:40 AM
LONDON (AP) - Waving placards and chanting slogans, thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched through central London Saturday, calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.
The ``Don't Start Wars'' protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that President Bush was planning to launch an offensive against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime.
``It is no good demonizing Saddam Hussein. He's not a nice man but demonizing a country is a different matter,'' Labor lawmaker Tam Dalyell told demonstrators, who gathered in Trafalgar Square carrying signs reading ``Don't Attack Iraq'' and ``War Is Not The Answer.''
Dalyell, a veteran and very vocal backbench member of Blair's governing Labor Party, insisted the dispute over U.N. weapons inspectors being allowed back into Iraq must be resolved through diplomacy.
Scotland Yard estimated that 3,500 people took part in the rally.
Earlier Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales warned that U.S.-led military action against Iraq could further destabilize the Middle East.
``If a unilateral attack on Iraq would in fact cause instability, would cause the loss of ultimate peace in the Middle East, then, in my view, it would be a very dangerous step to take,'' Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor told the British Broadcasting Corp.
The cardinal urged Blair, who is scheduled to meet with Bush in Texas next week, not to take any action which would lead to a split with the rest of the European Union, where many countries are deeply concerned about the prospect of an attack on Iraq.
Speculation that Saddam would be the next target of the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism has grown since Bush said Iraq, along with North Korea and Iran, formed an ``axis of evil.'' Vice President Dick Cheney recently toured Arab nations feeling out leaders about a U.S. attack on Baghdad.
----------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 30 March, 2002, 20:03 GMT
Thousands demonstrate against Iraq war
More than 3,000 anti-war demonstrators marched peacefully through central London today calling on UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.
The protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that US President George W Bush is planning to launch an offensive against Iraq.
Earlier on Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, urged Britain and America not to take any action against Iraq which would lead to further violence in the Middle East.
The Cardinal was speaking ahead of Mr Blair's visit to Texas next week to discuss the Iraqi situation with President Bush.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
----------------------------------------------------
London Anti-War Protest
Thousands of anti-war protesters are gathering in London's Trafalgar Square today.
Campaigners, led by CND, are calling on the Government to use its "special relationship" to steer the US away from an increase in military action.
The Don't Start Wars demonstration will start at London's Hyde Park before moving on to Trafalgar Square where a rally will be held. The march follows mounting speculation that the US is planning to attack Iraq.
Star wars
President W George Bush has described Iraq as an "axis of evil" and has demanded UN weapons inspectors are readmitted.
Nigel Chamberlain, spokesman for CND, said: "The event has been organised to oppose US foreign policy, particularly missile defence, Star Wars and the escalation of the war on terror.
"We want the UK government to use the special relationship to steer the US towards more peaceful paths."
Speakers at the rally are expected to include CND chairwoman Carol Naughton, Andrew Murray, chairman of Stop the War Coalition and MPs Tam Dalyell and Alice Mahon.
Last Updated: 14:56 UK, Saturday March 30, 2002
© 2002 BSkyB
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